The Chicago Bears will keep their name if they relocate to Indiana, according to their owner's response to recent speculation about a potential rebranding. Per reporting from CBS Sports, Sportsnet, and Deadspin, the team's leadership has addressed questions about whether a move would trigger a name change.
Rumors of an Indiana relocation have circulated since Illinois declined to provide $826 million in public funding for a new stadium, according to Awful Announcing. While one analyst retracted his reporting on the move—claiming he had been "duped"—multiple outlets indicate the team is still considering Indiana as a stadium site, with Hammond, Ind., mentioned as a possible location per Deadspin.
The Bears' decision to maintain their name suggests the franchise views the branding as separate from their geographic location, even as they explore venues outside Chicago.